First Lite Review | Top 4 Picks + Women’s Fit Guide

Today I’d like to share a First Lite review focused on the brand’s women’s line. 

When my husband bought First Lite for me, it was difficult to find sizing reviews that specifically discussed the fit of the women’s line. We’ll cover 4 popular women’s items + a fit review (with pictures) of the gear. 

In addition to discussing the function of the gear, this post aims to help other lady hunters who may be trying to decide between sizes like I was. 

(Because while you can chat with an expert sizing assistant with First Lite and exchange gear for different sizes, it costs time AND the price of postage, if you bought the items on sale, to exchange the already expensive gear.)  

In this First Lite review, we’ll look at the function and fit of the following items: 

• Women’s Wick Quarter Zip
• Women’s Furnace Long Jane
• Women’s Furnace Quarter Zip
• Women’s Sawtooth Hybrid Jacket

What is First Lite?

And if you’re asking yourself “What is First Lite?”. 

No worries.  

First Lite is a premium brand of hunting clothes that seeks to create a layered system for any outdoor environment. 

While the gear is expensive ($$$), customers are paying for the layered technology and specific materials used in each piece. First Lite designed the materials to cut down on bulk and increase utility, keeping wearers warm and dry in a variety of climates.

(In laywomen’s terms, think of First Lite like the LuluLemon of the outdoor world, except a little pricer and more functional for the outdoors). 

First Lite Review

I’m not looking to get too deep here, and neither am I qualified to. Discussing the engineering behind the designs and materials won’t be my focus.  

What I will focus on:

• Price
• Brief Review of Function 
• Feel and User Experience 
• Fit and Sizing

First Lite Price Range

Before we jump into specifics, this First Lite review wouldn’t be complete without discussing the price range of the gear. 

As someone who cares about where her money is going, price is usually the first question I want answered. Not to mention, price definitely plays into my review. If an item costs an ‘arm and a leg’, I will expect stellar performance. 

Brace yourselves. 

First Lite runs anywhere from $50 for a tank top – to $375 for an insulated jacket. 

Here’s the price break down for the gear we’ll review today (which you can now find on Amazon!): 

• Women’s Wick Quarter Zip: $95 – $105
  • Sale Price: $80
• Women’s Furnace Long Jane: $110
  • Sale Price: $80
• Women’s Furnace Quarter Zip: $150 – $160
  • Sale Price: $124
• Women’s Sawtooth Hybrid Jacket: $200 – $210
  • Sale Price: $140

My setup ran close to $575 in total for the non-sale price. The sale price was around $424 (pre-tax).

Moral of the story, wait for the sale. And make sure to read my fit review because you will have to pay to ship sale items back in exchange for a different size. (You won’t have to pay for return postage if you buy full price.)

Black Friday sales or early season sales usually come along every year. Keep your eyes peeled and plan accordingly.  

First Lite Review – Function

I found the First Lite gear shockingly effective. 

Before using First Lite, I used a mix of hand-me-down hunting clothes and some basic Cabela’s and Walmart items. This conditioned me to think bulk = warmth. That is just not the case with First Lite. Built with lightweight merino wool, the base layer, mid layer, and outer layers cut down on bulk and made me warmer than 6+ layers of regular cotton shirts and jackets combined. 

Layering

No First Lite review would be complete without discussing the layering system. It is impressive and makes packing for the camp a lot lighter.

Wearing all my pieces to hunt this season proved to be a comfortable experience. While the weather wasn’t too cold to begin with, I was perfectly comfortable wearing just my two quarter zips topped with the Sawtooth Jacket and my furnace leggings under some Under Armor insulated pants. I was almost too hot sitting on the stand in upper 50 degree weather, to be honest.

Be sure not to ignore First Lite’s suggested layering on the site. It is the design of the system that makes the experience what it is. Check out the detailed site descriptions for each piece to understand the purpose and use before buying. 

First Lite Women’s Wick Quarter Zip

The Women’s Wick Quarter Zip is a base layer. This piece is thin and designed to sit next to the skin for optimum functionality. Wear it as the base layer of a warmer system or wear it alone during an early-season hunt in a warmer climate. The Wick Quarter Zip handled the heat and humidity of Louisiana really well. I’d highly recommend this shirt if you hunt in warmer climates.  

The 150-gram patented Aerowool dries rapidly, whether it’s wicking away sweat or light rain/mist. This base layer also includes strategically placed 125-gram Aerowool mesh sections to allow adequate ventilation and airflow. 

While the material is wool, this next-to-skin piece is not scratchy at all. It is extremely lightweight, but offers a level of warmth and comfort during chilly predawn mornings. Later in the day when it’s nearing 90 degrees, the ventilation makes the long-sleeved shirt wearable and comfortable. 

Women’s Furnace Long Jane 

Definitely plan to wear these leggings during colder temperatures. The Furnace Long Jane does not play around. The fabric is 350gEXP Merino-X weight fabric. Designed for late season hunting, these long Janes provide a warm next-to-skin layer to beat the cold temperatures. 

The flatlock legging seams allow the fabric lay flat despite the material’s thickness. First Lite says these leggings are good for layering next to the skin or for using over thinner base layers. 

In my experience, I’d say that pulling these over another layer would be a tough order to fill. These leggings hardly have any stretch in them. This was the main reason why I decided to size up my pair of Long Janes. 

I will say wearing these for the first time to hunt proved to be a great experience in the warmth department, but not great in the functionality. Things like, I don’t know, sitting or squatting down were tough because of how thick the leggings are and how little stretch they have.

No First Lite review would be complete without an honest take. And honestly, I don’t think I’d recommend this item solely due to the lack of stretch and range of motion. Checkout some of the other more popular Long Janes.

Furnace Long Jane Fit Guide – Sizes Small and Medium

First of all, these photos were taken on a different camera and with different lighting. That being said, you probably can’t tell a huge difference compared to the size small (top) to the size medium (bottom). Just trust me, there was a more relaxed fit to the mediums for me.

This also shows how many women were saying it was fine for them to size up two sizes.

Women’s Furnace Quarter Zip

This is probably my favorite piece that I have. Typically the cozier and heavier the item, the more I want to wear it. With 95% merino wool and 5% spandex, this quarter zip easily slides over base layer pieces and stretches with your body during movement. The high collar and quarter zip design is a great way to stay warm sitting on the stand, while the quarter zip is excellent for letting out unwanted heat later in the day. 

This mid-layer quarter zip over the base layer Wick Quarter Zip is an excellent combination. The print is also very well designed and exudes warmth.   

In the pictures below, you’ll see that the small quarter zip fits me a little bit more fitted. The biggest difference is the length in the arms and the overall length of the shirt and where it hits me.

The small hits me right past the hips and the just over the bum. The medium on the other hand is easily past my bum and overall a little longer in the arms.

Women’s Sawtooth Hybrid Jacket

Designed with versatility in mind, this outer layer garment fits easily under heavier coats during cooler temperatures. The Sawtooth Jacket hosts strategically placed 20.5-micron, midweight 300 Merino-X fabric in areas that require more breathability. 

In other areas of the jacket, 60g 37.5 synthetic insulation behind durable nylon panels to insulate areas of the torso that need extra warmth sealed in. The small points of elastic around the bottom hem, wrists, and hood are all designed to keep the jacket in place and keep line of vision as wide as possible. While the hood design doesn’t look super flattering the functionality while sitting in the woods is top notch. Not only is your field of vision clear, but it keeps mosquitoes off the back of your neck.

The main complaint with this jacket is the pilling that may appear rather early on the merino wool panels. While hardy to the elements the fabric is delicate in how it will ball up rather quickly after use.

Feel – User Experience 

I have no complaints about the base layer Wick Quarter Zip or mid layer Furnace Quarter Zip. These layers work well together as a system to keep my torso warm and ventilated in all the right spots.

The Sawtooth Jacket is a unique piece. While it is classified as outerwear, it is lightweight and insulated in specific places to maximize warmth while slimming down on bulk. This jacket serves a very specific purpose, with a thoughtful design. I do wish more of it were water-resistant, however.  

The Furnace Long Jane Leggings were another story. Expect a softer than you’d think experience for a merino wool item, but don’t expect it to be stretchy at all. Designed to combat very cold temperatures, the fabric is thicker and more robust than other long-john style garments I have used in the past. I will say the thickness and lack of stretch made the leggings a little hard to move around in. Sizing up one size fixed most of the issue for me, I will say squatting and even sitting with legs bent naturally was somewhat of a chore to bend at the knee. Many buyer comments on the site mentioned sizing up two sizes in this item.

First Lite Sizing Review – Women’s Fit Guide

Now on to my First Lite sizing review. With every item costing around 100+ dollars, you certainly want to spend some time making sure you order a size that will fit how you absolutely love.

First Lite True to Size?

Basically, every item on the First Lite site says it fits true to size. Based on my experience and a percentage of First Lite reviews I’ve read, I’d say this claim is mostly accurate, just not always. 

Personally, 3 of the 4 items I ordered fit true to a size small, but 1 of them did not. The Long Jane ran small and I had to size up in it, which was the experience most women reported in the reviews. You’ll notice a sliding size guide on the website indicating that it runs small.  

Technical Fit

Now to state the obvious. First Lite is a performance brand that offers high-end technical gear. This means their definition of ‘true-to-size” fit is based on creating optimal performance, not so much based on the latest fashion trends. 

Like I said, stating the obvious. 

First Lite aims for a close fit. This is important for the layered system to work. Next-to-skin items are designed to fit close to the body. So expect the Women’s Wick Quarter Zip to fit a little tighter compared to other size small shirts you may own.  

The same goes for the Women’s Furnace Quarter Zip. This mid layer is designed to fit over a baselayer piece but is still meant to fit snug to the body. In the sizing and care FAQ section, First Lite says their items are designed to be “form fitting, but not restrictive”. This is exactly how my size small items fit me (with the exception of the Furnace Long Janes). 

I saw a lot of comments on the site claiming the shirts fit small, which I found to be somewhat true with the shirts in particular fitting more form-fitting than your average size small shirt. However, this is likely exactly how First Lite has designed the gear to fit from a functional perspective. Just be prepared to size up if you like a little more room in your shirts.  

My Size for Reference 

I found the First Lite gear to fit me in a tailored way. For reference, I am usually on the small side of small, meaning a typical small shirt is not too fitted on me and an x-small is more snug, close to body fit. 

When it comes to pants, I’m a regular in length (I’m a little over 5’5”) and typically wear a size 24 – 25 in jeans, like Levis, Banana Republic, or Gap, depending on style. For activewear, I’m a small in leggings and joggers, like GymShark, and a size 2 in Lululemon Studio Joggers and Studio Pants. 

Why I Sized Up

Overall, I didn’t find the First Lite gear to be too tight, aside from the Long Jane leggings. The gear fit closer to how I’d expect an extra small item to typically fit me. 

With the Furnace Quarter Zip, I sized up to a medium because I wanted a little more fabric (and because I typically don’t like wearing super tailored or fitted items, as a personal preference.) Also, I sized up with longevity in mind. On the rare occasion that I buy something that isn’t thrifted, I want the item to last a lifetime, if possible. So, while I enjoyed the tailored look of the size small Furnace Quarter Zip honestly a little more (after I was able to compare it with the exchanged medium), I think it will be best overall to have sized up to the medium to accommodate future potential body fluctuations down the road, e.g., pregnancy/postpartum, weight gain, etc.   

I also sized up to a medium in the Women’s Long Jane because the lack of stretch in the leggings had me worried about the longevity and functionality of trekking around in leggings that didn’t stretch hardly at all. First Lite has received many similar comments on their site, so hopefully, they can find a way to integrate a little more spandex in this particular line of leggings.   

Size Review – Women’s Wick Quarter Zip 

As I said, I’m usually a size xs – s in tops. This item ended up being pretty fitted, but not too tight at all. I kept the size small since it is a base layer item that is meant to fit next to skin. This is my favorite piece of the 4. If you hunt anywhere that can get hot/humid, you need to try this item out. I’d highly recommend it.

Women’s Furnace Quarter Zip

I sized up to a medium in this item. While many comments complained about the lack of stretch with this quarter zip, I thought it had plenty enough stretch to get on and off and enjoyed the more structured feel of the merino wool. 

Just don’t expect it to billow or drape fit how you’d expect a 100% cotton sweatshirt to fit. It is a more structured fabric and certainly not as stretchy.

Women’s Furnace Long Jane

These leggings are thick and hardly stretchy. I was a little hesitant to do a squat in these and didn’t find the range of motion nearly what it needed to be for an item designed for active hunting. 

When I spoke to a fit specialist at First Lite, he said that a lot of women say the same thing and have to size up with this item one or two sizes.

I would say these leggings are close to true to size, but the sole fact that the material has little to no stretch makes them too small. My husband ordered a size small for me, which is normally my size, but the lack of stretch and material thickness made it difficult to move freely. I found the long Janes to fit me fine in the waist, but they were a little too tight in the legs for my liking. 

Since these leggings are literally meant to help me stay warm while climbing into deer stands and trekking through the woods, I sized up for that extra mobility.  

After wearing my size medium Long Jane leggings to hunt in, I almost wish I would have sized up to a large, to be honest. The fit is fine while standing, but struggles to stretch and move with my body when squatting and even sitting. My knees felt particularly bound up when simply sitting down while wearing my Long Janes under my insulated pants.

Consider sizing up two sizes if you have to exchange these, or grabbing a different set of under

Women’s Sawtooth Hybrid Jacket

I kept my size small with this jacket. After sizing up in the Furnace Quarter Zip, I could have stood to size up to a medium in this jacket, but wearing it to hunt this season layered over my Wick and Furnace Quarter Zips proved to be just fine.

Aesthetically, this jacket has a patchy look, especially in the green conifer color. Patchy in the sense that you can see where parts of the jacket are made to be thicker than other parts. This design of course is for due to the jacket being a hybrid versatile item that works in warmer and cooler climates or seasons.

First Lite Review – Returns 

First Lite allows returns on full-price gear within 30 days from the order date. Items must be returned in original packaging and unused. They provide a free UPS Ground return label for full-priced items. 

Sale items, on the other hand, can only be returned for store credit or exchanged for another size. And while their Return and Exchange Policy doesn’t say this explicitly, you will have to pay for the shipping label to send sale items back to the store for store credit or size exchange. 

In my experience, the shipping was around $18 because I brought in the original box and packaging as the exchange policy states. I think I could have paid less if I would have used a smaller box or package for the couple of items I returned, but I was trying to be a rule follower and use the original box. 

I found this ridiculously pricey for shipping something back that already cost me $80 per piece. This additional cost to get the sizing right was a letdown for me, especially since it is already so expensive. 

Is First Lite Made in the USA?

There isn’t much information on where First Lite is manufactured on the official website. The tags on the gear make it very clear, however, they are “made in China”. First Lite is owned and operated out of Hailey, Idaho, but is made in China.   

Is First Lite Sold in Stores? 

First Lite is a direct-to-customer brand but has since opened its first brick and mortar store in the Hailey, ID community. The store is supposedly going to house all items from owner Steven Rinella’s family of companies. This includes First Lite, FHF Gear, Phelps, etc.  

First Lite has also started to sell their products on Amazon. While we didn’t order from Amazon, I would think this would be a way to avoid paying the shipping fees to ship items back for sizing or exchanging purposes. Amazon’s return policy should be the same across the board.